Marian O'Connor

Mrs. Marian L. O’Connor passed away peacefully on Feb 27, 2025, in her home, surrounded by her children. She was 94. Marian was born on Apr 16, 1930, in Richmond Heights, Ohio. She fondly remembered growing up as a ‘farmer’s daughter’ and often shared farming truisms, such as: “There’s only two kinds of rain - too much and too little”.

Marian graduated from THE Ohio State University in 1952, was a lifelong “Buckeye”, and never missed a Buckeye Football game reveling in their most recent 2025 National Championship! After graduation, Marian joined the USAF serving as an Occupational Therapist at Wright Patterson AFB, OH where she met her husband of 44 years, Edwin S. O’Connor Jr Maj (Ret) USAF. After an Apr 1958 wedding at St Paschal’s in Highland Heights, OH, the USAF took them to Texas, Japan, and to Biloxi, MS in Jan 1965. Other than a short assignment in the Philippines (69-70), Marian lived on the Coast, moving to Ocean Springs in Apr 1970. Along the way Marian and Ed raised five children and Marian always supported their OS Greyhound school, band, and sporting events. Marian also coached girls’ softball for many years. 

Marian was a devout member of St Alphonsus Catholic Church and an energetic member of the Gulf Coast YMCA. Forever curious, Marian loved reading, animals, world travel, and visiting her family in Ohio.

Marian is survived by five children: Edwin S O’Connor III, LTC(R) USA (Leigh), Sean P O’Connor (Therese), Kathleen J O’Connor, Dr. Teresa A O’Connor and Fr Michael P O’Connor; seven grandchildren: Rebecca Bradley (Gorham), John, Megan, Erin, Ruairi (Selina) and Annalise O’Connor; and four great grandchildren: Hank, Ava Leigh and Reece Bradley and Amelia Marian O’Connor. 

Marian is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, John and Hazel Shebanek, and her older siblings - John and Clara Mae.

Visitation is at Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home in Ocean Springs on Wed, March 5 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will occur at St Alphonsus on March 6 at 11:30 a.m. followed by internment in the Biloxi National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers please donate to St Vincent DePaul Pharmacy.

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes in honored to serve the family of Marian L. O'Connor.